Ochoa saves the day as Mexico draws with Brazil

Tales Azzoni, Associated Press

Published 10:15 pm, Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

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Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a diving save during a 0-0 draw against Brazil. Ochoa made a series of acrobatic stops to preserve the tie. “It was the match of my life,” he said. “To do it in a World Cup, in front of all the fans, it's incredible.” less

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a diving save during a 0-0 draw against Brazil. Ochoa made a series of acrobatic stops to preserve the tie. “It was the match of my life,” he said. “To do it in a ... more

Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

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Brazil's forward Neymar (R) and Mexico's defender Rafael Marquez (C) jump for the ball in front of Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa during a Group A football match between Brazil and Mexico in the Castelao Stadium in Fortaleza during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 17, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSENODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images less

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Brazil's forward Neymar (R) and Mexico's defender Rafael Marquez (C) jump for the ball in front of Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa during a Group A football match between Brazil and Mexico in ... more

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Ochoa takes Javier Aquino for a ride after Tuesday's match. Mexico and Brazil each have four points and sit atop Group A.

Ochoa takes Javier Aquino for a ride after Tuesday's match. Mexico and Brazil each have four points and sit atop Group A.

Photo: Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images

Ochoa saves the day as Mexico draws with Brazil

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FORTALEZA, Brazil — He was called a hero and a savior by his Mexican teammates. His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles.

There is no doubt Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazil's hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament.

Ochoa made a series of outstanding saves to help his side hold Brazil to a thrilling 0-0 draw Tuesday.

The result left each team with four points after two games in Group A, but Brazil is ahead on goal differential going into its decisive final matches. Croatia and Cameroon meet Wednesday for their second games after both opened with defeats.

“We can't avoid talking about their goalkeeper,” Brazil striker Fred said. “He came up with at least four miracles.”

Ochoa's first remarkable save prevented Neymar from scoring in the 26th minute. The Brazil striker's powerful header looked set to fly just inside the post when the goalkeeper dived to his right to push the ball wide.

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Ochoa also made three other difficult saves to keep the hosts from breaking the deadlock — a shot by Paulinho in the 44th, a second-half effort by Neymar from inside the area and a close-range header by Thiago Silva in the 86th minute which produced a remarkable block by the Mexico goalkeeper.

“It was the match of my life,” said Ochoa, who was visibly moved after the match. “To do it in a World Cup, in front of all the fans, it's incredible.”

“He did what we expected him to do, he came up with extraordinary saves,” Herrera said. “I can't remember another Mexican goalkeeper doing such a great job in the World Cup.”

A win by either team would have guaranteed a spot in the next round if Cameroon and Croatia were to draw in the jungle city of Manaus.

“In the end, the 0-0 mirrors what happened, it was a very hard-fought match,” Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. “The draw wasn't a good result because a victory would have already allowed us to advance, but we need to be able to respect our opponent, which played very well.”

Herrera was pleased with his side's performance.

“We had a great match against a great rival playing in front of its fans, in its stadium, in its country,” he said. “We showed that we can play at the same level as any other team.”

Brazil had won all three previous World Cup matches between the teams without conceding a goal, but the Latin American rivals hadn't met in the World Cup since 1962.

“We already expected a match this difficult,” Fred said. “We tried to score until the end, but it wasn't possible. We'll have to wait until the next match to try to secure a spot in the next round.”

Fans wearing Brazil's green and yellow colors were in the majority as expected, but Mexicans took over large seating sections of the stadium and at times were louder than the local fans.